this white house photo of president obama talking yesterday to house speaker john boehner does not convey the 2%se and difficult reality. the g.o.p. leader told mr. obama he wanted to permanently extend all current tax rates, including reose for the two 2% of earners. > there were some offers that conversahanged back and forth yesterday, and the president and r:had a pretty frank conversation about just how far apart we are. >> reporter: we asked white hinge spokesman jay carney today uhere things stood. how would you rate speaker boehner's flexibility? leahere's no indication yet hatt the republican leadership is willing to acknowledge the basic fact that rates need to rise on the top 2%. >> reporter: the white house says it has been flexible, cutting mr. obama's tax increase request from $1.6 trillion to $1.4 trillion. uill unrealistic, republicans said. >> the president's call for $1.4 trillion worth of revenue. fhat cannot pass the house or or senate. w reporter: white house officials say republicans will find the president flexibility n future entitlement savings ond how income taxes